Penny Pinch to Lose an Inch

Feast for a Week

 
“The easiest and best thing for your budget is cooking at home,” says Mary Ann Browning of the Loews Regency Hotel in New York City. Here’s how:

• Devote 30 minutes to chopping vegetables (hey, it’s relaxing), then portion and store in freezer bags to later steam or stir-fry.
• On weekends, cook a hearty batch of soup, chili or casseroles—then freeze to enjoy all week.
• Microwave a potato—top with salsa or fat-free yogurt for a healthy snack.
• Stock healthy, ready-to-cook supermarket entrees such as kebabs or fish.